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• goodman
  goodman

  noun

  the master of a household; husband.
• Goodman
  Goodman

  noun

  Benjamin David Benny, 1909–86, U.S. jazz clarinetist and bandleader.

goodman

¹ American  

[good-muhn] / ˈgʊd mən /

noun

Archaic.

• goodmen
  plural

1. the master of a household; husband.

2. (initial capital letter) a title of respect used for a man below the rank of gentleman, especially a farmer or yeoman.

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Goodman ² American  

[good-muhn] / ˈgʊd mən /

noun

1. Benjamin David Benny, 1909–86, U.S. jazz clarinetist and bandleader.

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goodman ¹ British  

/ ˈɡʊdmən /

noun

1. a husband

2. a man not of gentle birth: used as a title

3. a master of a household

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Goodman ² British  

/ ˈɡʊdmən /

noun

1. Benny, full name Benjamin David Goodman. 1909–86, US jazz clarinetist and bandleader, whose treatment of popular songs created the jazz idiom known as swing

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• goodmen
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of goodman

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at good, -man

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goodman Goodman goodmen

"And I am for goodman Thorne's," said another; and so the party separated.

From William Shakespeare as he lived. An Historical Tale by Henry Curling

Well, they wanted a labourer, and the goodman set him to pick up stones off the field.

From Tales from the Fjeld A Second Series of Popular Tales by P. Chr. Asbj?rnsen

One evening the goodman came home, at a late hour, full of wonderment.

From Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales A Sequel to the Nursery Rhymes of England by J. O. (James Orchard) Halliwell-Phillipps

Then the goodman saw that he had done his work, and felt he ought to keep a workman who was so strong.

From Tales from the Fjeld A Second Series of Popular Tales by P. Chr. Asbj?rnsen

He begged her not to move, and asked if the goodman was at home.

From Sophia A Romance by Stanley John Weyman

Around this time, Kearns made his way to Chicago, where he studied acting at the original Goodman School of Drama, which became the Theatre School at DePaul University, and graduated in 1972.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

It dates from the 13th Century, and once belonged to the Goodman family of Ruthin.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

“You’re basically buying an annuity,” said Aaron Goodman, a Vanguard researcher who worked on the report.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

Mr. Goodman writes about the job of White House counsel:

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

Mrs. Goodman was leaning on the red Coca-Cola box.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Moreover the goodmen and swains of the said township were no ill folk, but bold of heart, free of speech, and goodly of favour; and the women of them fair, kind, and trusty.

From Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair by William Morris

All the goodmen took one counsel, and went to Hoskuld and told him their trouble.

From Laxdæla Saga Translated from the Icelandic by Muriel A.C. Press

A strange old piece, goodmen — whirled about from here to yonder, as if I were nothing!

From Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Saw the Westmilne house, the goodmen wheirof ware Boswels.

From Publications of the Scottish History Society, Volume 36 Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall with His Observations on Public Affairs and Other Memoranda 1665-1676 by Lord John Lauder Fountainhall

Sad-colored mantles the goodmen wore, but their doublets were scarlet, and with their green waistcoats and red caps, surely the Puritan men were sufficiently gayly dressed to suit any fancy save that of a cavalier.

From Sabbath in Puritan New England by Alice Morse Earle

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Related Words

• head of the house
• householder

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